CA1072414A

CA1072414A - Valve device

Info

Publication number: CA1072414A
Application number: CA268,504A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Setsuko Ueno; Taichiro Akiyama; Sajiro Ookubo
Original assignee: OKUBO SAJIRO
Current assignee: OKUBO SAJIRO
Priority date: 1975-12-29
Filing date: 1976-12-22
Publication date: 1980-02-26
Also published as: FR2337294A1; DE2659440B2; GB1566308A; FR2337294B1; DE2659440C3; US4102342A; DE2659440A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A fluid such as air is tightly enclosed in a chamber which serves to plug an organic passage such as a person's nasal cavity. The fluid is supplied into the chamber through a tube so as elastically to expand the chamber and thereafter is discharged through a valve device comprising an opening formed in the tube and a valve member which normally closes the opening but can be rolled up on itself so that the fluid in the chamber can flow out through the opening.

Description

BAC G20uND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
This invention relates generally to a valve device.
The valve device is particularly, but not exclusively, suit~ble for an instrument ~or preventing outflow of a nosebleed, or for a trachea cannula for supplying an : anesthetlc lnto the lung.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
' ~igure 1 ls a cross-sectional view of a con~entional instrument used for preventing outflow of a nosebleed;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an instrument used for preventing outflow of a nosebleed and lncluding a valYe device accordi~g to a first embodiment of this invention;
FiguLe 3 is a cross-sectional view of ~he instrument of Figure 2;
- Figure 4 is a~ enlaxged cross-sPctlonal ~iew of a .
; part of the instrument of Fi~gure 3;
Figure 5 is-an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to-Flgure 4 when a ~alve member is rolIed up;.
Fi~ure 6 is a perspectlve view of the instrument of . Figure 5;
~ Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lnstrument : ~ lnserted into an organic passage;

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Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a trachea cannula used for supplying an anesthetic into the lung and including a valve device according to a second embodiment of this invention;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX ln Flgure 8;

. . Figure lO is a perspective view of a supporting d~vice for a detecting element used for measuring an impedance in the middle ear and including a valve device according to 10 a third embodiment of this invention;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting device of Figure lO;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional vi~w when the supporting devi~e with the detecting element is inserted into the con~ha passage.

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:. Description of the Prior Art: .
.. The conve.ntional instrument for preventing outflow of a nosebleed is shown in Figure 1. The instrument comprises an elastic alr accumulator or envelope 2 which is able to expand and contract and is attached to one end of a relatively :~ riqid pipe 1 i.n such a manner that the envelope 2'encloses an open end ~ the pipe 1. The other end of the pipe 1 is - formed wlth a relatively thick closed portion la of silicone rubber. To use the instrument, a needle 3 of an air injector 4 pierces the thick portion la as shown in Figure 1 ànd the alr is forcibly introduced into the pipe 1 with the injector 4. As a result, the air flows into the envelope 2 so that the envelope 2 is elastically expanded by the air pressure .: ~
` as shown by a dot-dash line. When the needle 3 is pulled . , l~J~

out of ~he thick portion la, the pin hole formed by the needle 3 ln the thick portion la closes by el~ tic restoration, and the aix inside is :rapped to maintain the envelope 2 expanded.
To use the instrument of Figure 1 the envelope end is inserted into the nasal cavity. When the envelope 2 ;
reaches the back nasal cavity, lt is expanded by the alr supplied through the needle 3 of the injector 4. As a result, the expanded envelope 2 tightly contacts a wall surface of the back nasal cavity so that blood entering the nasal cavity as a result of nosebleed cannot flow into the trachea through tlle back nasal cavity. This enables a nosebleed to be ` stanched, for example if a haemorrhage occurs during a surgical operation on the nasal cavity.
When the air in the envelope 2 is to be discharged, the needle 3 of the injector 4 is again pierced through the thick portion la, so that the air in the pipe 1 can be discharged by the injector 4,or alternatlvely the thick portion la is made as a cap which can be detached from the !O pipe 1. This is rather troublesome, as a separate instrument ~the needle of the injector) or means (the cap) is required -~; ror discharging the air.
Again, in the conventional method for measuring an impedance in the middle ear, a detecting element (detecting ~, probe) is inserted into a pipe which can be elastically deformed and is made of, for example, silicone rubber. The pipe with the detecting element is inserted into the concha passage. The pipe has a thick portion in which the de~ cting ~- element is supported in 'he concha passage. However, the size of the concha passage va.ies from person to person, so the , .

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detecting element may slip out of the concha passage during the measurement of the impedance or alternatlvely the pipe may pass painfully on the concha passage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of this inventlon is to pxovide a valve device which enable a fluid to be easily d~scharyed without a separate discharging means.
Another object of this invention is to provide a valve device of simple construction.
A further object of this invention is to provide a valve device whlch can be attached to an instrument which cc~n easily be inserted into an organic passage suitably to plug the latter, and then easily tak~n out from the organic passage.
A further object of this invention is to provide a valve device for an instrument used for preventing outflow of a nosebleed, or for a trachea cannula for supplying an anesthetic into the lung.
A still further object of thls invention is to provide a valve device which is attached to an instrument with a detecting means to~be suitably supported in an organ~c passage ln order to measure an impedance therein.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention .
~` - there ls provided a valve device for enabling a fluid enclosed ~5 in a chamber to be discharged, the device comprising~
a first member having an interior portion which in use of thP device communicates in fluid-tight manner with said , chamber;
an opening in said first member which communicates said lnterior portion with the exterior of said first member; and ~ 5 -}~

a resillent valve member whlch normally closes said openlng . and which has an end portlon from which satd valve member ; can be rolled up on itself such that said opening i5 exposed ` to pe~mit discharge of said fluid.
More particularly, there is provided:
a valve device for discharging a fluid enclosed J . in a chamber; including an ol~ter pipe having an interior por-: tion which in use of the device communicates in fluid-tight manner with the interior of said chamber; a first opening being provided in said outer pipe and communicating said interior por-tion with the exterior of said outer pipe; a hollow valve member at~ached to an inclined surface of the exterior of said v outer pipe in such a manner that said first opening is normally closed by said valve member; an inner pipe fixed to an inner ` surface of said outer pipe; an elastic first non-return valve :~
, attached to said inner pipe in such a manner t~.at a second open- : :~

3;- ing provided in said inner pipe is normall.y closed by said first non-return valve; an elastic bulb pump ha~ing said first non-return valve associated therewith; and an ~lastic second non-return valve provided in a wall of said ~lb pump; wherein said valve member is adapted to be rolled up on itself along said outer pipe into a ring-shaped configuration against the slope of . said inclined surface whereby said opening .is exposed to permit discharge of said fluid, said valve member beiny formed of an ~ elastic material whereby the valve member rlormally resists being :' rolled up on itself and the rolled valve member is elastically and automatically restored by its elastic force to its original state extending along said inclined surface so as to close said opening when rolling force is removed, said chamber comprises an `~ 30 envelope connected to said outer pipe, said envelope being adap,-ed to elastically expand and contract, in use said bulb pump is D r~peatedly expandea and cont-acted to orc~ said fluid from said b~llb p~p into said outer pipe through said first non-return valve to expand said chamber in such a manncr that said first non-return valve is forcibly opened by the fluid pressure re-sulting fr^m said bulb pump being contracted and is closed by i-ts own elasticity to close said second opening and that said second non-return valve enables external fluid to be sucked into said bulb pump when the pressure on said bulb pump is re-leased such that said bulb pump expands by its own elasticity, and sald envelope contracts by the action of its elastic force so that said fluid in said envelope is discharged through said outer pipe and said first opening when said valve member is rolled up whereupon said first opening will be exposed.

The above and other objects t features and advantages " o~ this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments shown in .~ the aforementioned drawings.

; ~ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
` An instrument for preventing outflow of a nosebleed and including a valve device according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 an instruemnt is m~de of an elastomer (elastic high molecular compound) such as a - silicone rubber, a ~atural or s~nthetic rubber or the like, and includes a pipe 11 with a wall thickness of about O.5 mm and an external diameter of about 2.5 mm. An air accumulator or envelope 12 is fixed to one end of the pipe 11. The envelope 12 is elastic and can be expanded and contracted, ~- that is to say, it ca~ be expanded by i~'ernal air pressure ` 30 from an external diameter of about 15 ~ in a normal state to -6a-,. .

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;~ . 45 to ~0 mm, and then can be contracted by its elasticity to ~- press out the air therefrom. A locating ring 13 used for . determining the insertion depth of the pipe 11 into the nasal -~ cavity can slide on the external surface of the pipe 11 in the longitudinal direction as indicated by an arrow 14, so that the position of the locating ring 13 can be freely adjusted. The locating ring 13 has.an external diameter ..~

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larger than the diameter of an inlet opening of the nasal cavity or nostrils and therefore if the position of the locating ring 13 is fixed after the insertion depth has been estimated, the pipe 11 cannot be inserked too far into the nasal cavity. The locating ring 13 has a flat surface 15 which contacts an external surface of the upper lip ~Figure 7) and serves to support the pipe 11 stably.
An enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 projecting outward to some extent is formed on the other end of the pipe 11~ A bulb pump 17 ~or supplying air into the envelope 12 is fixed to the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 in such ; . .
~- a manner that said other end of the pipe 11 is closed. When the bulb pump 17 i5 compressed by the fingers, it is elastic-ally deformed so that its volume is decreased a~ shown by a dot-dash line. The bulb pump 17 then el~stically restores ~o the former shape to such external air thereinto through an alr inlet opening 18.formed in a wall of the bulb pump 17.
A ~heet-like non-return valve member 19 closes the inlet ~` opening 18 in the normal state and is formed on an internal surface of the bulb pump 17. One end of the valve member 19 is fixed to the internal suxface and another part merely contacts the internal surface. An air suction force is developed when the bulb pump 17 elastically restores to the former shape, so that the valve member 19 ls lifted up as shown by a dot-dash line and external air is sucked into the ~ bulb pump 17 through the inlet opening 18.
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One end of a small inner pipe 20 with a wall thickness of about 1 mm and an internal diameter of about 2 mm is fixed to the inside of the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16.
Accordingly, the internal space in the pipe 20 communicates : _ _ ; . -, ' with the internal space in the bulb pump 17. A non-return valve member 21 with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 mm is fixed on the other end of the pipe 20 to close it. The valve member 21 is substantially cylindrical, with one end closed, and tightly contacts an external surface of the pipe 20 in the normal state. The pipe 20 has a few air inlet openlngs 22 with a diameter- of about 0.8 mm which are normally closed by the valve member 21. When an air pressure is-developed by ~ ~ the bulb pump 17~ a small gap is opened between the valve ; 10 member 21 and the pipe 20 against the elastic force of the ' valve member 21, which permits the air to flow into the pipe 11 from the pipe20 through the opening 22 and said small gap.
'~ A roller valve membex 23 with a thickness of about ~, 0.4 mm and a leng~h of about 20 mm ls tightly attached to ; 15 an external surface of the enlarged cross-sectional portion' 16 of the pipe 11. One end of the roller valve member 23 ls fixed to the bulb pump 17 and another part of the valve member 23 merely elastically contacts the pipe 11.
Next, the oper-ation of the instrument will be explaine ', 20 with reference to Figures 4 to 6.
As shown in Figure 4, the bulb pump 17 is pressed , from opposing sides by the fingers so that the bulb pump 17 ,~ is e~stically contracted as shown by a dot-dash line. As a ; - result,~air is forced into the pipe 20 from the bulb pump 17 and escapes outward through the openings 22. In other words, ~, air pressure developed ln the pipe 20 functions to spread the valve member 21, so that the valve, member 21 is e3astic-,, :
~ ally deformed as shown by the dot-dash line and the small .,~ ., .
gap is formed between the pipe 20 and the valve member 21.
Air therefore enters the pipe 11. At first the air has not ~ .

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sufficient pressure to expand the envelope 12~
~hen the fingers release the bulb pump 17, the bulb pump 17 elastically restores to the former shape. External air then enters the bulb pump 17 through the opening 18, but the valve member 21 prevents air in the pipe 11 from flowing ~ack into the pipe 20 through the opening 22. The valve ~-~ member 19 lifts as shown by the dot-dash line ln Figure 4, ~o that external air flows into the buIb pump 1~ through the ~ ' openlng 18 untii'the bulb pump 17 ls completely restored to 3~ 10 the former shape.
As a result, the bulb pump 17 agaln conta1ns the ~, same amount of internal air as at the beginning, that 18 to say, an amount of air corresponding to the amount of the air ' that flowed into the plpe 11 from the bulb pump 17 enters the bulb pump 17 from outside.
The alternate contraction and expansion of the hulb pump 17 is continùed to expand the envelope 12 as shown by a dot-dash line in Figure 3. When the envelope 12 has been ~ expanded to the required extent, the valve element 21 is i 20 pressed against the pipe 20 by the action of the air pressure in the pipe 11 and therefore the a1r in the pipe 11 and the envelope 12 is retained in airtight manner.
The expanded envelope~l2 ls used to prevent ~he outflqw of blood from nosebleed by tightly contacting a wall Y- .
surface of the back nasal cavity as mantioned below~
When the pipe 11 wlth the envelope 12 ls to be ~ removed from the nasal cavity~ it 1~ necessary to contract L~', the envelope 12. This is done using the roller valve member 23. An opening 24 for discharglng the trapped air i~ formed ln a slde wall of the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 of . .. .

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the pipe 11 and the roller valve member 23 normally tightly elastlcally contacts the pipe 11 so that the air cannot escape therefrom. By placing one or more fingers on a ring-shaped end 23a of the roller valve member 23, the roller S valve member 23 can be forcibly rolled up on itself towards the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 as shown by an arrow 26. The roller valve member 23 is thus rolled up to form a substantially spiral cross-sectlon and a ring-shaped appearance with the end 23a of the roller valve member 23 located at the inside of the substantially spiral cross-section. The roller valve member 23 can very easily be rolled up as shown in Figure 5 because it is thin and substantially cylindrically located around th~ external surface of the enlarged cross-; sectional portion;16 in its original state. Moreover, the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 has an inclined external surface 25 which becomes of smaller external diameter in the direction along whic~ the roller valve member 23 is rolled up, and therefore the rolling-up operation can more easily be effected.
When the condition shown in Figure 5 and Flgure 6 i~
~ maintained, the opening 24 of the pipe 11 is exposed, so that ; the air previously trapped in the plpe 11 flows out rapidly ,~ through the openlng 24. This continues until the envelope ~. .
12 is restored to the original collapsed size.
After the air in the pipe 11 has been discharged, the pressure by the finger on the roller valve member 23 which has malntained the spiral cross-section shown in `~ ~ Figure 5 until that time is removed, so that the roller valvemember 23 tends elastically to extend in the unrolling direction to be restored to the former configuration in which it tightly .

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contacts the external surface of the pipe 11 and again : completely closes the openin~ 24.
Discharging of the air can very easily be effected, ` and also the construction of the instrument can be simple because the roller val~e member 23 is merely attached to the ` ' instrument.
; Next, a practical method of using the instrument Will be explained referring to Figure 7.
First the end o the pipe 11 with the envelope 12 ~ 10 is inserted into the nasal cavity 27 from an lnlet opening ;~ 28 thereof and subsequently introduced gradually towards the interiox of the nasal caVity 27, At this time, if the positlon of the locating ring 13 is fixed after the insertion depth of the pipe ~1 in the nasal cavity 27 being estimated, t~e s 15 envelope 12 will be located just at the back nasal cavity 29 .~ .
~ when the locating ring 13 contacts the inlet opening 28.
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The pipe 11 is deformed to correspond to the shape of the nasal cavity 27, because it has good elasticity~ and the ~ flat surface 15 of the locating ring 13 contacts the external i 20 surface of the upper lip so that the pipe lI is stably ~ positioned aftex the insertion and moreover the insertion .~ ~, . .
' operat~on can be smoothly effected.
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The envelope 12 ls then expanded by the bulb pump 17.until it tightly contacts a wall surface of the back nasal .~ . , .
~` 25 cavity 29 so that this is plugged. As a result, blood from a nosebleed and entering the nasal cavity 27 can be prevented ;: .
from flowing into the trachea 30 through the back nasal ; cavity 29. This permits a surgical operation on the nasal <' cavlty to be more successfully effected. Moreover, when the ~ 30 lnstrument is to be taken out ~rom the na~al ca~lty 27, the '~i. , , .
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roller valve member 23 is rolled up so that the air in the pipe 11 ls discharged therefrom. As a result, the volume of the envelope 12 is decreased and the pipe 11 can be easily taken out from the nasal cavity 27.
S Figure 7 to Figure 9 show a second embodiment of - the valve device applied to a trachea cannula for supplying ' an anesthetlc lnto the lung.
The trachea cannula includes a plpe 31, one end of which is cut obliquely. Associated with the plpe 31 is an instru~ent generally as descri~ed above, and part of the length of the pipe 11 of the instrument i5 buried in the wall of the pipe 31. The envelope 12 is attached axound an external surface of an end region of the pipe 31 adjacent to the oblique end. The pipe 11 ls branche~ off from the other end of the pipe 31 and i~ connected to the bulb pump 17. The roller valve member 23 is attached to the enlarged cross sectional portion 16 adjacent to the bulb pump 17.
A locating plate 32 for controlling the insertion depth of the cannula into the trachea is attached to the other end region of the pipe 31. A pipe 33 for supplying an anesthetic gas is inserted into this end of the pipe 31.
As shown`in Figure 7, the cannula is pierced into the neck 34 of a patient from the front and is inserted into the ~`
trachea 30 until the leading end of the cannula is directed , _ 25 towards the lung along the length of the trachea 30. In such a condition a gap 35 is formed between the pipe 31 and the wall surface of the trachea 30 and therefore the patient can breathe through the gap 35. When the patient takes a bxeath~ the anesthetic gas is ~imultaneously sucked into the - ` 30 lung through the plpes 33 and 31.

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When air is forcibly introduced into the envelope 12 through the pipe 11 ~y operation of the bulb pump 17, the envelope 12 is expanded tightly to contact the wall surface of the trachea 30. As a result, a counter flow of the supplied anesthetic gas can be effectively prevented, because the t~achea 30 ls lnstantaneously plugged by the expanded envelope 12.
Subsequently the ro'ler valve member 23 is rolled É I up on itself as described above to discharge the air in the j` 10 envelope 12, so that the trachea 30 is-opened again, which permits the patient to breathe normally in such a manner that the anesthetic gas previously supplied to the lung acts upon the lung effectlvely.
Figure;10 to Figure 12 show a third embodiment of valve device applied to a supporting devlce for a detecting ; element used for measuring an impedance in the middle ear~
A summary of the measurement of the impedance in ~;" the middle ear will first be given. In this measurement, the concha passage is tightly plugged and a sound pressure is applied from outside to generate a standing wave, so that the measurement of the impedance can be effected based upon a reflection coefficient of the standing wave reflected by t; ' the eardrum. With such a measurement the result is obtained in a much shorter time as compared with the usual measuring method of measuring the hearing for a pure tone. Moreover, the data obtained is objective because judgement by the patient ,; is not necessarY, 50 this method of measurement is increaslngly , used in the medical field.
~- During the measurement of the impedance in the middle ear, the detecting element must be supported stably within .~ .

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the tlghtly plugqed concha passage.
Referring to Flgures 10 and 11, an lnstrument for measuring the above impedance is made of an elastomqr such as a silicone rubber, natural or synthetic rubber or the like S and includes a pipe 11 with a wall thickness of about 0.5 mm and an external diameter of about 1.5 mm. A tube-like member 42 is fixed to one end of the pipe 11. A hole 43 with an internal diameter of about 2 mm for lnsertlng a detecting element of an impedance measuring implement is formed through 10 the c~nter of the member 42. The external diameter of the detecting element is slightly larger than the lnternal dlameter of the hole 43, for example, the former is 3 mm 50 that as the detecting element is inserted into the hole 43 the member 42 is elastically deformed and the detecting element is lS gripped in an airtight manner.
~ ring-shaped chamber 44 for receiving air is formed around the external surface of the member 42. The chamber :, ' -44 communicates with the pipe 11 so that air can be supplied ` ~r j:
;~ ~ to the chamber 44. Air in the chamber 44 can be discharged ~` 20 through the pipe 11 by the action of the elastic force of a wall portion 45 defining an external surface of the chamber 44.
The member 42 has an external diameter of, for example, 7 mm in the normal uniflated state, so that it can readily be ~, inserted into the concha passage.
The same pump and valves ad described in the first embodiment ls ~ttached to the other end of the pipe 11, and the same reference numerals are used in the drawings. In this embodiment, however, the enlarged cross-s~ctional portion 16 is substantially cylindrical~ a part of the pipe 20 is 30 circular truncated cone-shaped, and the lenqth of the roller .
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valve member 23 along the length of the enlarged cross-sectional portlon 16 is about 5 mm.
Y Operation of the bulb pump 17 causes the chamber 44 to be expanded aginst the elastic force of the w~ll portion 45 a~ shown by a dot-dash line ln Figures 10 and 11. The member 42 with the expanded chamber 44 tlghtly contact~ the wall surface of the concha passage and ~erve~ to support the detecting element stably. To remove the member 44 from the concha passage, the roller valve member 23 is rolled up on itself along the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 as shown j $n Figures 5 and 6. The air in the expanded chamber 44 is , thus d$scharged through the opening 24 and the chamber 44 i~
i~ elast$cally restored to the former state. The rolled up I ' roller valve member 23 is also elastically restored to the lS former state by the action of $ts elastic force along the enlarged cros~-sectional portion 16.
Next, the use of thi~ instrument will be explained . with reference to Figure 12.
First, a detecting element 47 is inserted into the hole 43 o~ the member 42. The member 42 with the detecting element 47 is then inserted into the concha passage 48 of a ., .~, . .
' patient. At this t$me air is not supplied to the chamber 44 through the pipe ll, so the external diameter of the member 42 ls smaller than the internal diameter of the concha passage x~ 25 48. Accordingly, the member 42 can readily be inserted in~o the concha pas~age 48 without pain to the patient.
-~ When the member 42 has been inserted a predetermined $ depth into the concha passage 48, air is gradually introduced into the chamber 44 through the pipe 11 by operating thehulb -~ 30 pump 17. As a re~ult, the chamber 44 ls gradually expanded .."~,' :s . ~ ~S -~ .

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to enlarge the external diameter of the memb~r 42 and the external surface of the member 42 elastically and tightly contacts the wall surface of the concha passage 48.
Consequently, the member 42 is stably supported in the concha passage 48 and also the detecting element 47 i~ -stably supported substantlally in the center of the cross-section of the concha passage 48. In this condltion, the t detecting element 47 does not contact the wall surface of the cohcha passage 48 and the measurement of the impedance can be accurately effected. Moreover, even if the cross-' ' section of the concha passage 48 is not substantially circular, !., the detecting element 47 can be supported stably because ~' . the chamber 44 elastically conforms to the shape of the ,`` concha passage 48 when it is expanded. - -A lead 49 is connected to the detec~ing element 47 ''` and an output signal from the detecting element 47 is ~ ' supplied to an lmpedânce meter 50 through the lead 49. ` , Accordin~ly, a numerical value indicated by a needle,of the impedance meter 50 is directly read or the numerical value is recorded by an XY-recorder (not shown), so that the ., . .~, .
' measurement of the impedance in the mlddle ear can be effected.

, ~hen the measurement has been done~ the roller valve member ,23 is rolled up as,shown ln Figures 5 and 6 to ~ dlscharge the air in the chamber 44 through the opening 24 , 25 of the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16. As a result, the external diameter of the member 42 becomes smaller, so ~`, that the member 42 can easily be taken out from the concha ,'~" passage 48.

,, While preferred embodlments of this invention have ~ 30 been described using speci~ic terms, such descriptlons are , ~ ~ 16 -, . . .

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~` for illustrative purposes only, and lt 1~ to be understood , that changes and variations may be made without departing '~ from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
~' Fo~ xample, ln the first and second embodimPnts, ' 5 the roller valve,member 23 can be directly attached to a ,~- pàrt of the enlarged cross-sectional portion 16 of the pipe ~' 11 or can be attached to the bulb pump 17 and the enlarged cross-sectlonal portion 16. The enlarged cross-sectional portion lS may not necessarily be provided. The shapes of ,~ 10 ~he roller valve member 23 and the pipe 11 can be also variously changed~ Instead of as in the above-ementioned preferred embodiments, the roller valve member 23 can be ~ attached to the conventional instrument shown in Figure 1 ;~ wherein the alr i6 forcibly introduced lnto the pipe 1 with the injector and the ~ir in the envelope 2 is discharged by' the use of the roller valve member ~3. Although air is ~` forcibly introduced into the pipe 11 in the preferred , embodiments, any other fluid which is able easily to expand .r,' the envelope 12 can be used. In Figure 7 the pipe 33 can be further extended so that the air can be suc~ed into the ` trachea 30 through the extended pipe 33. On this occasion, '~ when the patient is taking a bath, an upper end of the extended ~ ~ ' pipe 33 is located above the level o hot water and the envelope ,~ 12 is ~xpanded,wi'th the`,,b~lb:; pump 17 to tightly contact ~
''~,25 the wall surface of the trachea 30, whereby the patient can breathe through the extended pipe 33. Moreover, this invention ~- can be applied to any instruments used for plugging or opening ~'~ a hole or for measuring an impedance in any organic passage of a niving body.
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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A valve device for discharging a fluid enclosed in a chamber; including an outer pipe having an interior por-tion which in use of the device communicates in fluid-tight manner with the interior of said chamber; a first opening being provided in said outer pipe and communicating said interior por-tion with the exterior of said outer pipe; a hollow valve member attached to an inclined surface of the exterior of said outer pipe in such a manner that said first opening is normally closed by said valve member; an inner pipe fixed to an inner surface of said outer pipe; an elastic first non-return valve attached to said inner pipe in such a manner that a second open-ing provided in said inner pipe is normally closed by said first non-return valve; an elastic bulb pump having said first non-return valve associated therewith; and an elastic second non-return valve provided in a wall of said bulb pump; wherein said valve member is adapted to be rolled up on itself along said outer pipe into a ring-shaped configuration against the slope of said inclined surface whereby said opening is exposed to permit discharge of said fluid, said valve member being formed of an elastic material whereby the valve member normally resists being rolled up on itself and the rolled valve member is elastically and automatically restored by its elastic force to its original state extending along said inclined surface so as to close said opening when rolling force is removed, said chamber comprises an envelope connected to said outer pipe, said envelope being adapt-ed to elastically expand and contract, in use said bulb pump is repeatedly expanded and contracted to force said fluid from said bulb pump into said outer pipe through said first non-return valve to expand said chamber in such a manner that said first non-return valve is forcibly opened by the fluid pressure re-sulting from said bulb pump being contracted and is closed by its own elasticity to close said second opening and that said second non-return valve enables external fluid to be sucked into said bulb pump when the pressure on said bulb pump is re-leased such that said bulb pump expands by its own elasticity, and said envelope contracts by the action of its elastic force so that said fluid in said envelope is discharged through said outer pipe and said first opening when said valve member is rolled up whereupon said first opening will be exposed.

2. A valve device according to claim 1, further in-cluding supply means for supplying a fluid into an auxiliary pipe which bypasses said chamber.

3. A valve device according to claim 1, in which said envelope is insertable into a nasal cavity together with said outer pipe and thereafter expanded tightly to contact a wall surface of said nasal cavity, whereby said nasal cavity is plugged and outflow of a nosebleed can be prevented.

4. A valve device according to claim 1, in which said outer pipe is attached to an end of a trachea cannula when the trachea cannula is being used to supply gas into the lung said chamber being expandable to plug the trachea to prevent a count-erflow of said gas.

5. A valve device according to claim 1, in which said chamber is formed around a supporting device for an element for detecting an impedance in an organic passage of a living body, said element being inserted into an aperture formed at the cen-ter of said supporting device.

6. A valve device according to claim 5, in which said supporting device with said element is insertable into the ear passage and said chamber is expandable tightly to contact a wall surface of said ear passage so as to plug said ear passage and to support said element therein.